(This is the finest analysis of this game you are ever likely to see on the net. Or ... anywhere else, for that matter!!!)
I annotated this game (primarily) for my
web
page on the,
"Best (and Most Amazing) [Chess] Games - Ever Played."
***
(There are no diagrams. You will need a chess board for this one.)
***
Explanation of symbols:
The symbols I use are the standard ChessBase/Informant ones.
(Except they are more-or-less turned on their sides, and with a few
modifications.)
A "plus-slash-minus" ("+/-"), means that,
"White is winning."
A "plus-over-a line" ("+/"), means that White is much
better.
A "plus-over-an equal sign" ("+/="), means that
"White is just slightly better."
An equal sign ("=") means the game is level or the play is roughly
balanced.
An "unclear symbol" ("~") means the play is unclear, but
should be roughly close to equal.
A "minus-slash-plus" ("-/+") means that, "Black is
winning."
A "plus-under-a-line" ("/+"), means that "Black
is much better."
A "plus-under-an equal sign" ("=/+"), means that
"Black is just slightly better."
The symbol "<=>" means, "with good
counterplay."
The symbol "~" means, "good
compensation" (i.e. active play), for the material invested.
The symbol "--->" means, with a strong attack.
The symbol "/\" means, with a strong
initiative.
(This is not quite the same thing as an attack, but means basically the
ability to greatly dictate the course of play.)
***
I also
use the mark, (appellation) '!?'
a lot.
The normal interpretation of this mark (after a move)
is interesting, but perhaps associated with a great deal of risk. I do
not agree with this interpretation
and prefer just interesting. I also use it to show a divergent
path in the analysis, or a departure
from normal opening theory. This does NOT mean the move is good or
bad, just interesting ... and
there are possibly MANY different
alternatives at this particular juncture of the game!!!
******************************************************************
***
( The ratings above are actually very
conservative estimates. They have been adjusted to reflect
modern-day standards and the constant inflation of the ratings
since ELO first introduced his system.
By comparison,
the best players of 2002 are nearly 2800, (or over!); and the
average "Top 50"
GM is usually in the rating range of 2675 ... give or take
20-30 points either way.)
A great game! In fact one of the
perfect model games demonstrating the value of
an
active King in the ending of King and Rooks. (Plus pawns, for both sides.) {A.J.G.}
After DECADES of reflection ... (I
first saw this game when I was 8 years old!); I must
say this is one of Capa's GREATEST GAMES!! (An incredible statement in
itself!)
As a teacher, I'd have to say this is
also one of, "THE TEN MOST BEAUTIFUL AND
INSTRUCTIVE END-GAMES EVER PLAYED IN THE HISTORY OF CHESS!!!"
(Especially in the
category of R+P endings!! Maybe
even the finest Rook-and-Pawn
ending ever played!!!)
Irving Chernev says of
this game:
"If it is indeed true that Capablanca studied more than a thousand
rook-and-pawn endings to
refine his incomparable technique, then in the ending of this game he
offers us the quintessence
of his acquired and inborn mastery."
"This ending, which may very well
be the finest and the best of it's kind, is one to delight the
connoisseur, and one to grant the student a priceless lesson in the art of
finishing a game with
elegance and accuracy." - The (late) great, IRVING CHERNEV.
( From the introduction to this game, in his book, "The Golden
Dozen."
- - - 'The 12 Greatest Chess Players Of All Time.' - - -
{Plus selected, annotated games.}
Copyright 1976, Oxford University Press. Library of Congress # 75-39504. )
(See also Chernev's other book, "The
Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played,"
by I. Chernev. Copyright, 1965. Game # 1.)
[ I have also gone back and
referenced two more books, concerning this wonderful game:
# 1.) "The 100 Best,"
by GM Andrew Soltis.
# 2.) {The Mammoth Book of} "The World's Greatest
Chess Games."
By GM John Nunn, GM John Emms, and FM Graham Burgess. ].
I also have a copy of the original book of the tournament.
(My annotations are based on dozens
of books. (And magazines.)
But the best is easily the book, "The Golden Dozen,"
by I. Chernev.)
The comments in the double brackets
(<< blah-blah-blah >>) are from the short
annotated version of this game, which I plan on trying to have published.
Click HERE to see this ending in a java-script, re-play (board) format.
( I have examined this game dozens -
if not hundreds of times - over the years, and my notes
will reflect this. - LIFE-Master A.J. Goldsby I )
***
1. d4 e6;
Many different sources give this
game as starting out with the 'French' move order.
( I
think database technicians call this, 'normalizing a move order.' )
This has been a common idea for over
one hundred years with Dutch players, as Black can
then avoid the Staunton Gambit.
[ Chernev (& Soltis) gives the move order: 1...f5; 2.Nf3, The most restrained.
----------
(The line, 2.e4!?
fxe4; 3.f3 exf3; 4.Nxf3, leads to the somewhat dangerous
Staunton Gambit.
This is something many Masters prefer to avoid!
Another way to play this
opening is: (current theory) 2.c4 e6; 3.Nc3 Nf6; 4.Nf3
Bb4;
5.Qb3 Qe7;
6.g3 b6; 7.Bg2 Bb7; 8.0-0 Bxc3; 9.Qxc3 0-0; 10.Bg5,
"+/="
Or 2. c4, Nf6;
3. g3, e6; 4. Bg2, Be7; 5. Nf3, 0-0; 6.
0-0, d6; 7. Nc3, Qe8; ('!?')
8. Re1, Qg6;
9. e4!, fxe4; 10. Nxe4, Nxe4; 11. Rxe4, Nc6;
(Taking the Rook loses
to Nh4, trapping the
Queen.) 12. Re1, e5!?;
The end of the column.
(Maybe better was 12...Bf6.)
13. dxe5, Bg4;
14. h3, Bxf3; 15.
Bxf3, Nxe5;
GM A. Yermolinsky -
Zelensky; USA, 1997.
16. Bxb7,
"+/" [See MCO-14; pg. 487-488, column # 17, note # (o.).
]. )
----------
2...e6; 3.c4 Nf6; 4.Bg5, transposing back to the game/move
order given here.
Since so many books give so many conflicting move orders for this game,
and since it really does
not matter! ... (nothing is
omitted or missed!); I have stayed with the move order given here.
{ALSO ... this move order is the way this game is listed in most
electronic databases!}
BUT
... if I had to make a choice ... I would place my bets on Chernev!!
(He was extremely meticulous in his research.)
This is also a problem that
repeats itself in nearly ALL electronic databases, the game scores
are often the wrong move order, ... or simply incorrect!! ].
2. Nf3,
Capa shows that he prefers a QP-type opening. This move also discourages
any attempt at
a freeing central advance, [...pawn (at) e7 to e5;] anytime soon by Black.
[ The continuation: 2.e4 d5; leads to a French Defense.
The continuation: 2.c4!? f5;
3.Nc3 Nf6; 4.a3!? Be7; 5.e3 0-0; 6.Bd3 d5!?; 7.Nf3!? c6;
8.0-0 Ne4; 9.Qc2 Bd6; 10.b3 Nd7; 11.Bb2, "+/=" was
the game,
GM Geza Maroczy - GM Savielly Tartakower; Teplitz-Schonau;
1922. ( 0-1 in 35 moves.)
This led to a game that was super-brilliant, won the brilliancy
prize, and was perhaps the best
game of Tartakower's career. I mention this game only to make
a point: It clearly demonstrates
that GM Savielly Tartakower regularly used the
Dutch Defense ... and was very effective
with this particular opening! ].
2...f5; 3.
c4;
The standard, "classical" way of playing this position. (White grabs
some space and exerts
strong pressure on the center before playing Nc3.)
[ A more modern
treatment of this opening would be: 3.g3 Nf6; 4.Bg2 d5!?; 5.c4 c6;
6.0-0 Bd6; 7.b3!? Qe7; 8.Bb2 0-0; 9.Nbd2,
"=" with very complex play, and an
interesting middle-game to come. ].
3...Nf6; 4.
Bg5!?;
Again, a simple - but effective! - classical deployment in the opening phase by
White.
(White wishes to play e3, and develop his King-side, but does not
want to close in his
QB behind his pawn structure.)
Capablanca may have been the ULTIMATE
pure, classical player. (He generally almost
always seem to prefer a classical method of development in the opening
phase of the game.)
[ Could White have tried
4.g3, in this position? (This is the more modern method for
handling this opening.) ].
4...Be7;
There is certainly nothing wrong with simple development!
[ Alekhine
suggested: 4...Bb4+; 5.Nbd2 Nc6; 6.e3 0-0; with the idea of ...d6; and
...e5.
But this is not clearly better than the text. ( 7.a3,
"+/=" ) ].
5. Nc3 0-0;
6. e3 b6;
Black plans to fianchetto his QB, a common idea in these lines of the Classical
Dutch.
(This hyper-modern deployment of the QB is seen in even the most modern
theoretical
treatments of the Dutch Defense, even today.)
7. Bd3 Bb7;
"Black's set-up is quite reasonable." - FM G. Burgess.
(He goes on to point out the pros and cons for both sides.)
Suffice it to say that both sides have
arrayed their armies in an apparently normal and
acceptable manner. (Center, piece development, etc.)
8. 0-0, (King-Safety)
The most natural move here.
[ 8.a3!?, to prevent the pin. (Too slow.) ].
8...Qe8!?; (Hmmm.)
(Thematic.) Black gets ready to transfer his Queen to the Kingside. The Queen
will be used to
initiate an attack on White's King, if possible. This is also a common theme in
the Dutch Defense.
According to Chernev, this was GM
Tartakower's improvement on an earlier round of the
same tournament. (A TN?)
[ 8...Ne4; 9.Bxe7 Qxe7;
10.Bxe4 fxe4; 11.Nd2 Qh4; 12.Ndxe4, cost Black a pawn.
GM F. Marshall - GM S. Tartakower; New York,
1924. (12...Bxe4; 13.g3 Rf6;
14.f4, Seemingly forced.
(14.gxh4?? Rg6+; 15.Qg4 Rxg4#) 14...Qh3;
15.Nxe4 Rh6;
16.Qe2, and White safely keeps the pawn.).
Or 8...Nc6!?;
9.Rc1 h6; 10.Bh4 Ne4; ("=") ... "with equality."
- GM A. Soltis.
GM J. Nogueiras - GM A. Yusupov; Rotterdam,
1989. ].
9. Qe2!, "+/="
This threatens e4. (And causes, "an immediate change of
plans," according to Chernev.)
The advance, e4 would give White the edge because of a huge, "spatial edge
in the center,"
says GM A. Soltis.
'!' - Irving Chernev.
'!' - GM A. Soltis.
'!' - FM Graham Burgess. (& GM/Dr. John Nunn.)
The most accurate move in this position.
<< (If Black allows e4, all his well-posted pieces will be exchanged off.) >>
[ If 9.a3!?, then
9...Qh5; "~" is much better for Black than the actual
game. Now play could
proceed 10.b4!? Ng4!?; 11.Bf4, "+/="
(Not 11.Bxe7?? Bxf3; "-/+" This is a typical
Dutch tactic,
or type of attack you will see in this particular opening.)
].
9...Ne4; (Maybe
- '!') {The position is close to equal.}
Tartakower certainly knows the value of a blockade.
Alekhine even thought Black might be slightly better here!
"Black seeks the safety of simplification." - J.R. Capablanca.
[ 9...Qh5;
10.e4!?, "=" with advantage to White, according to Chernev.
(The position might actually be closer to equal.) ].
10. Bxe7 Nxc3;
Giving White a doubled set of c-pawns.
[ 10...Qxe7?; 11.Bxe4 fxe4; 12.Nd2 d5; "+/" gives Black a horrible pawn structure. ].
(Now White must capture the Black
Knight on c3 - his Q is attacked.)
11. bxc3 Qxe7;
Black threatens an invasion on the Queenside on the a3-square. (White prevents
it.)
"To make up for his Pawns being
doubled on the Bishop-file, White has the (half) open
Knight-file for his Rooks." - I. Chernev.
12. a4!,
Prevents an invasion of the Black Queen on a3, and any thoughts of Q-side
expansion by Black.
It also prepares a possible advance of a4-a5. This would swap off an isolated
QRP for White
and perhaps create more avenues of attack. (The move also gains a little space
on the Q-side.).
<< A multi-purpose move. One main point is to keep the Black Queen off the a3-square. >>
"A nice positional move." - GM A. Soltis.
'!' - Irving Chernev. '!' - GM A. Soltis.
[ 12.h3!? Qa3; hitting the c-pawn. ].
12...Bxf3;
('!?')
White was planning to play Rfb1 and c5 un-doubling his pawns, so Black exchanges
off his Bishop. (...Nc6; first hems in his Bishop.)
Burgess calls this a (possible) over-reaction to White's plan.
While this may or may not be true, it
is certainly easier to play White in this position than
it is to play Black!
And to the best of my knowledge, no
other annotator may have pointed out that
Tartakower may have been trying to create a situation where he could use his Knight
to exploit White's doubled
QBP's. (This is {maybe}
the way that Nimzovich himself
may have wanted to handle this
position.) This certainly seems likely, considering the
further course of the game.
This is one of the main turning points
of the game and it was a very critical decision.
It also sets up a major imbalance in the position, and it is an imbalance that
will play a
major role in this game.
<< Black sets up a major
imbalance with this move. Perhaps he was trying to exploit the
doubled White QBP's? >>
[ 12...Nc6; {Diagram.}
This blocks Black's own Bishop, and could be why Tartakower
swaps off his Bishop first. 13.Rfb1!,
(13.e4!?) 13...Na5;
(13...h6?!; 14.c5, "+/=").
14.c5, "/\" This clearly
favors White, according to Chernev and several computer programs.
14... bxc5?; 15.Rb5, "~" (Maybe
"+/=")
Maybe 12...d6!?; "=" ].
13. Qxf3,
"Now it happens - as usual in mobile pawn formations - that the Bishop is
superior to the
Knight. The rest of the game is a very fine example of the utilization of
such an advantage."
- GM A. Alekhine. (From the book of the tournament.).
HUH?
I thought this was a R+P ending? (Just kidding.).
I think what Alekhine means is that
the ending in this game, (and White's subsequent
advantage); is a direct result of all the pressure White obtained in
the middle-game.
The very good writer, IM J. Silman,
says that such positions should always be measured in
terms of it's major balances and imbalances.
The most notable imbalances
here are:
A.)
White's superior minor piece;
B.)
White's small - but clear - advantage in space;
and C.)
White's slightly more {potentially} active and mobile pawn center.
Since many computers rate this game
{right now, in this position}; as dead equal, perhaps the
most impressive thing about this game is the slow, but sure - and very careful
and methodical,
- manner in which Capa manages to gradually increase his advantage to the point
where it is a
real and a tangible influence!
[ There is no need to
play: 13.gxf3?!, ('?') and ruin White's pawn structure. Now Black
should play: 13...e5!, "=/+" with a
very small (but clear!) plus. ].
13...Nc6;
If you were White, how would you proceed?
14. Rfb1!,
(Maybe even - '!!')
A unique maneuver - and the very best move here, according to Chernev.
"Capa handles the center and both
wings expertly."
- GM A. Soltis.
'!' - GM A. Soltis.
<< A nice move, and a unique maneuver. >>
[ 14.e4!?, "=" (Maybe - "+/=") ].
14...Rae8;
Centralization.
Black also possibly thinks about preparing the advance of ...e5; in the
next few moves.
[ 14...g5!?; -
Alekhine. This looks (possibly) risky to me.
14...Na5; - Tartakower. 15.c5 bxc5; 16.Rb5 c4;
"~" ].
15. Qh3!, (Maybe
- '!!').
This prevents ...f4, because of the double hit on h7. (And White is preparing
f2-f4, to
prevent Black from making a central advance and freeing his game.).
This is a maneuver several
Masters failed to discover when I showed them this game.
( I have tested this game on hundreds of players and dozens of computers over
the years.
I also have taught this game more times than I care to count.)
'!' - GM A. Soltis.
<< White hits f5, preventing
both ...e5; and ...f4. He is also preparing f2-f4, clamping down
on the center. >>
[ 15.e4 fxe4; 16.Qxe4 g6; is probably OK for Black. ].
15...Rf6; (Maybe
- '!?')
Black looks for counterplay. (Attack the enemy king?)
(Black plans ...Rh6; perhaps in the
hope of dissuading White from executing the maneuver
he actually played in the game.)
Several
players have criticized this move, most notably Alekhine. Yet no one,
to the best
of my knowledge, has ever provided a move (or a plan!) that is
distinctly superior to this one.
Also, the computers show virtually no change in
the evaluation of the position after
15...Rf6. This would mean there is absolutely nothing deficient
about this move!
Additionally, no other author;
(Soltis, Chernev, Nunn, Burgess; et al) finds any fault with this
move at all. Personally, I think too many authors engage in illogical WITCH
HUNTING.
What I mean by this - is in a game such as this, where there ARE NO EASY
ANSWERS -
too many people have gone looking for ONE MOVE. One move to
blame all the troubles
of the game on. One move on which they can hang their ... 'scarlet letter'
on. BUT .....
there are no simple solutions. The hard, cold fact is that there may be NO one
move in this
game which is to blame for all of Black's problems in this particular crown
jewel of a game.
The simple fact is that the entire PLAN (and set-up)
that Black came up with in this game
was ... REFUTED!! (But only by the most beautiful and
exquisite play, I hasten to add.)
AND ... another
thing to consider. This is a game I have been testing computers on, ever
since the computers have attained reasonable playing strength. (One of the first
boxes that
I tested this particular game on was a Fidelity Electronics machine rated around
1700. That
poor thing had not a clue and rarely found a good move, especially as concerns
this game.)
Even today, in the year 2002, NO
computer program can successfully duplicate all the
moves in this extra-ordinary game. What I am trying to say is that Capa's play
is sheer
genius here. It is for us to admire and enjoy --- and emulate ... if we can. But
to capture it,
define it, or to get a machine to reproduce it ... THIS SIMPLY IS NOT POSSIBLE!!
Just as no one can be sure where the well-springs of real genius like Mozart,
Beethoven,
Rembrandt, Da Vinci, or Einstein comes from; we cannot be sure where the source
of
Capa's true inspiration flows from ... or even where it is going! We can only
know, when
we view the games of this incredible player, we are looking at true genius! So ENJOY!
[ A blunder for Black
is: 15...f4??; 16.Bxh7+! Kf7;
(16...Kh8; 17.Bg6+ Kg8; 18.Qh7#).
17.Qh5+ Kf6;
(17...g6; 18.Qxg6#).
18.Qg6#; Not 15...e5??; 16.Bxf5, "+/"
Or 15...g5!?, - Burgess. (& Alekhine?) ].
16. f4!,
{Excellent!}
White gains space and mechanically prevents the advance of Black's f-pawn. He
also puts
a virtual LOCK on the key central squares. (The pawn break, ...e6-e5; is
now practically
impossible for Black to achieve.).
'!' - Irving Chernev.
[ 16.f3!?; or 16.g3!? ].
16...Na5; (Maybe
- '!?')
Black tries to block White's Q-side play. (The 'Nimzovichian' concept of a
Knight Blockade.).
(Additionally another concept that MANY annotators fail to point out ... and
MOST players
miss here, is that Tartakower was hesitant to play the move, ...d6.
This is because he feared
Capa may have found a way to exploit the now unprotected Knight on c6, perhaps
by pinning it.
Ideas of c5!? and Bb5, and/or Qf3.)
[ MANY
annotators have suggested the move:
16...a5!?; This causes a weakness which could be exploited by
... 17.g3 g6; (17...g5!?).
18.Qf1 Qg7; 19.Be2 g5; 20.Kh1 gxf4; 21.gxf4 Kh8;
22.Bf3 Ne7; 23.Rb5 Rg8;
24.Qf2 Rh6; 25.c5 bxc5; 26.Rxc5 Ra8; 27.Rb1 c6; 28.Rb7 Nd5;
29.Bxd5 cxd5;
(29...exd5;
30.Rxa5!?).
30.Rcb5, and Black's a-pawn is rather weak the coming end-game.
Black could also try 16...d6!?; but after 17.Qf3, Na5; we have transposed back to the game. ].
Now that White's Queen-maneuver has
fulfilled its purpose, he brings the Queen back
into the game. (To where it can play real role in the further play to come.)
17. Qf3!,
"The Queen returns to a stronger post, commanding the long diagonal."
- Irving Chernev.
[ Fritz 5.32 thinks for 30 minutes and suggests the move: 17.Qh5!? "~"
A student once suggested: 17.c5!?, "=" which isn't bad. ].
17...d6; (Center
support.)
According to GM S. Flohr, ... (and GM A. Soltis!); this is
not the best move here.
But as it looks VERY
logical - AND the computer also chooses this move,
- I cannot
possibly condemn it. (Also - Chernev did not criticize it either.)
The computer evaluation of this
position - (after 17...d6;) after letting the dang thing run
ALL NIGHT LONG!!! ... (I have to sleep once in a while) ... is that Black
is better. ("- 0.03")
This means Black is better, but only by three one-thousandths of a point. While
this is hardly
enough to win a game, and probably over-emphasizes the problem of White's
doubled
pawns, (and does NOT put enough weight on the long term value of the
Bishop!); the final
conclusion here has to be that the position is currently equal.
Also GM Nunn and FM Burgess
did NOT criticize this move at all!
It is also interesting that no criticism of this move was made
in newspapers of this move either.
(Soltis awards a question mark here, - but for once - I'd have to say he was ... way off base!)
"17...c5; allows White to choose
between playing on the Kingside, (18. g4); or the Queenside.
(18. Rb5.)" - FM G. Burgess.
<< A logical move - Black mainly
prepares ...e5. (This is also the move most computer programs
choose here.) Soltis gives this move a question
mark, but it is hard (impossible?) to agree
with his judgment here. >>
***
[ According to GM A.
Soltis, it was better for Black to play ...c5!?; and ...Rc8.
("Better was ...c5 and ...Rc8." - GM A.
Soltis.) But this does NOT stand up to analysis!
For example: 17...c5; 18.Rb5!? Rc8?; This is bad here.
(Black should play: 18...d6!; "="
with a
completely equal game, in this position.) 19.dxc5
Rxc5; 20.Qa8+ Rf8; 21.Qxa7, "+/"
{Diagram?} with the better game for White.
Even if Soltis would have
chosen 18...d6; after Rb5, this is NOT clearly better than what was
chosen in the game! (Not to be mean, but Soltis was probably
not any stronger than Chernev.
He certainly was NEVER in the world's Top Ten,
as GM S. Tartakower certainly was.) ].
18. Re1,
(Maybe - '!')
"It's work being finished on the Knight-file, the Rook moves to the center,
to support a break
by P-K4." - Irving Chernev. (P-K4 = e4.)
<< White now prepares his main pawn break in the center. >>
[ One of my students
suggested: 18.Kh1!?, with the idea of an eventual g2-g4. But the
outcome of such a plan is NOT completely clear. ].
18...Qd7!?;
(Interesting, maybe even - '!')
Black removes himself (his Q) from the same file as the enemy Rook - common
sense in chess.
(Maybe this move should be given an exclam!! And another point to this move is
Black is
eyeing the White QRP now.)
"Black temporizes, as 18...P-K4;
(18...e5;) 19. P-K4, (19. e4!) opens the lines to
White's benefit." - Irving Chernev.
"Black waits." - GM Andy Soltis.
A friend sent me a copy of some
newspaper articles, (that had been copied onto micro-film) from
the time this game was played. The participants in this game apparently analyzed
this game in detail,
and their thoughts were printed in a chess newspaper column of that time. And
the consensus of all
the players was that 18...P-K4; may have been a little too risky.
I say all this only because Burgess (and Nunn) saw fit to give d6 a dubious appellation.
***
[ When I first analyzed this
game (on a friend's computer) many years ago, a very early version
of Fritz suggested the move, 18...e5. As I had never seen this move given in any
of the chess books
I had read, {concerning this game}; I completely disregarded it. (I did
write a letter to Larry Evan's
column, but he never answered or printed it.) But it turns out that this
move, 18...e5; may be a
playable alternative. I.e., 18...e5!?;
(Possibly risky?) Nunn and Burgess give this move an
exclamation point. 19. fxe5!?, (Maybe
- '!') This could be the most straight-forward move.
(FM Graham Burgess gives the
following analysis: 19.e4!?, (Maybe - '!')
Burgess awards
no mark to this move, but it is the move that Capa said he intended
to play here.
'!' - GM A. Soltis.
19...Nb3!;
[Best.] This looks likes Black's critical try here. (Burgess also awards
this move
exclam here.) Other moves are a lot less desirable for Black.
(I.e.,)
----------
a).
19...exf4?!; Burgess gives this move a
question mark, as to why, I haven't a clue.
(Sarcasm.) 20.exf5!?, ('?!')
Burgess attaches no mark to this move, but it is obviously
incorrect. (20. e5,
is correct. )
20...Qxe1+; 21.Rxe1 Rxe1+; 22.Kf2 Re3;
23.Qd5+,
23...Kf8!?; This move might be the problem. (Maybe dubious?)
(Perhaps Black had
to play: 23...Rf7!?, (Maybe - '!') Burgess
does not even examine this move.)
24.Qa8+,
(24.Be4?? c6; "-/+")
24...Ke7;
(24...Kf7?!; 25.Be4, "+/")
25.Qg8! Rf7; This is just
about forced here. (25...Rxd3?;
26.Qxg7+ Rf7;
27.f6+ Ke6; 28.d5+, ("+/-") ...
"is a disaster for Black." - FM G. Burgess.)
26.Be2, "+/="
Burgess stops his analysis
here, (in this particular sub-variation); and [correctly] concludes that White
is better here.
(
Apparently Burgess missed: 26.Qxh7!,
"+/" ... with the idea if 26...Rxd3??;
27.f6+
Kxf6;
28.Qxd3, "+/-"
).
Or
b). 19...exd4?!;
('?') 20.e5!, "+/=" ... "with
advantage." - GM A. Soltis.
(20.cxd4!? Nb3;
"=") 20...Rf7;
Soltis gives only this move.
( Maybe slightly better
is: 20...dxe5; 21.Rxe5 Re6;
22.cxd4, "+/=" (Maybe only "=".) )
21.cxd4 Nb3!?; This is
interesting, but it is not entirely if this is Black's best move at this
point. ( Maybe
slightly better is: 21...dxe5; 22.Rxe5 Qd7; 23.d5, "+/="
- {A.J.G.} )
22.exd6 Qxe1+;
(If 22...Qd8; then 23.dxc7, "+/-")
23.Rxe1 Rxe1+; 24.Kf2 Re8;
25.Qc6, "+/-"
(GM Soltis's analysis.) Tartakower would have been insane
to play this!;
-----------
(Returning
to our look at FM Burgess's analysis of 19. e4!?)
20.Rad1 exd4; 21.e5, ('!') This
is definitely best.
( White should not play:
21.Bc2?!, Burgess correctly labels this move as inferior.
21...Nc5; 22.e5
d3; 23.Bxd3, This looks forced.
(White should not fall for:
23.exf6?? Qxe1+; 24.Rxe1 Rxe1+; 25.Kf2 dxc2; "-/+")
23...Nxd3;
24.Qxd3 Re6; "=/+" Burgess call this, ...
"unimpressive for White." ).
21...dxe5; 22.fxe5!, This is probably White's best shot here, now in this position.
(Burgess gives the line: 22.Rxe5
Re6; 23.Bc2 Na5; 24.cxd4 Nxc4; 25.Bxf5 Nxe5;
26.Bxe6+ Qxe6;
27.dxe5, "~" ("=") ... "is
less convincing." - FM G. Burgess.)
22...Re6;
(Box?) This move looks forced. Now play becomes razor sharp. 23.Bc2
Na5;
24.cxd4 g6; 25.c5!? bxc5; 26.Qc3 Nc6;
27.Bb3 Nxd4; 28.Bxe6+ Nxe6; 29.Qc4, "+/="
(Maybe - "+/") One could certainly understand why Tartakower did
not play this line against,
"The chess machine," as Capa was known as in those days!!
FM G. Burgess gives the
comment: "This is a tricky ending to assess, but White's chances
on the Q-side look quite good!" (To say the least! Only a suicidal
fool would want to be an
exchange down against Capablanca.)
It seems that all FM G. Burgess has proven here
was the wisdom of GM Tartakower's
decision to get his Queen off the
e-file!!!!!
*****
Follow this - your choices are:
A.) To get your
Queen off the file. You see you might have a slight disadvantage, (in the
ending);
but also you will have some real counter chances against White's weak Queen's
Bishop-Pawn;
B.) You can go into
an ending where you will lose the exchange.
What choice would YOU make?
*****
(Returning to our investigation of the main analysis line.)
19...dxe5; Black has to take. 20.
Bxf5 Nxc4; "=" (Maybe - "+/="),
with a fairly
equal game, according to Fritz 5.32. (This line was first generated
in approximately in 1998
or 1999, on a friend's computer. So beware, because I think
White is just slightly better here.)
I have since gone back and analyzed
this line several times. {Once with Deep Junior!} White may
actually be a lot better here, or at least this is what the computer-driven
analysis seems to indicate.
All this work does nothing ... or
proves nothing ... except perhaps validate Black's decision in this line.
(Black decided, after a fair amount of time on his clock, not to play the
move, 18...e5. Instead he
chose to remove his Queen from the e-file.) ].
***
I think we can safely dismiss those who would criticize Black's 17th or 18th moves!!
19. e4!,
White waits no longer - he blows open the center.
(This greatly increases the mobility of all of White's pieces, especially his
Queen and Rook.).
'!' - Irving Chernev.
[ 19.Qh5!? ].
19...fxe4;
Now White sets up a dual battery. (The e-file, and the b1-h7 diagonal.).
20. Qxe4!,
The sharpest and the best.
[ 20.Rxe4!? Nb3, "~" ].
20...g6;
White has a nice position, but how does he improve his overall game?
With his next move, White
consolidates/improves his Kingside.
21. g3!,
White fortifies the f-pawn, being in an open file. He also gains a square
for his King.
"White stabilizes his position." - Irving Chernev.
FM G. Burgess notes that this is a
preparation for a K-side attack, but there is very little
that Black can do about it.
'!' - GM A. Soltis.
<< White gains space and shores up his KBP. >>
[ Not as accurate is :
21.Rab1!? Nc6; (21...Qxa4!?)
22.Rb5 a6; 23.Rg5, (This line was
suggested by one of my students, and is very interesting.)
Note that White has left his QRP
unguarded. (23.Rb2!?)
23...Ref8; 24.g3 Nd8; "~" ].
21...Kf8; 22.
Kg2, (Maybe - '!')
White prepares h2-h4, attacking the King-side.
[ 22.Re2!? ]
22...Rf7;
Too conservative, according to Chernev.
"Cautious measures such as this,
may have won battles for the Roman General, Quintus Fabius;
but against a player the stature of Capablanca, this amounts to simply waiting
for the final blow
to descend." - Irving Chernev.
[ Black could have also
played: 22...Qc6!?; 23.Qxc6 Nxc6; 24.c5 Re7; - I. Chernev.
(White probably is just a little better here.);
The computer likes the move, 22...c5!?; which seems relatively reasonable. ].
23. h4!, (Maybe
- '!!') {Excellent!}
White has a majority on the right side of the board. He uses this majority to
break down
his opponent's defenses and break up Black's Kingside for the endgame.
White also needs to act fast before
Black has time to bring the Knight on a5 - which is
obviously very much 'out of play' - back into the game and consolidates his
position.
<< The beginning of a K-side offensive. >>
[ 23.Qe2!? c6; 24.Rad1
Nb7; "=" White could have also tried: 23.Bf1,
"="
or 23.c5!?; "~" ].
23...d5!?;
(Hmmm.)
This almost looks to be a panic reaction. A valid one though, considering what
White could do
on the Kingside, given enough time.
"This leads to an exchange of the
Queens, leading to a Rook-ending favouring White."
- Irving Chernev.
"Tartakower sees no sensible way
to defend his Kingside, other than to exchange Queens.
However, this involves some concessions." - FM Graham Burgess.
(& GM/Dr. John Nunn.)
This was the second, major critical decision of the game.
<< Black decides the pressure on
his position is great ... and perhaps in fear of a possible
K-side attack ... dumps the Queens, and opts for
the end-game. >>
<< (Several writers expressed the opinion that this move may be forced.) >>
***
[ 23...Nxc4!?; 24.Bxc4 d5; 25.Bxd5 Qxd5; (25...exd5!?) 26.a5, "+/=" - Alekhine.
23...Qc6!?; (Maybe
- '!') - GM A. Soltis.
But now 24.Qxc6 Nxc6; 25.c5!, "+/=" - LM
A.J. Goldsby I
(White threatens Bb5, winning.);
Years of analysis has
convinced me that Black's best move here may be: 23...c5!; "~"
{Diagram?}
as Black's only real try in this particular position. (White
will generate a lot of pressure on the
King-side. Black will have play on the other wing. A friend, with a
new Pentium IV, allowed
ChessMaster 8000 to look at this position all day while he was
at work. The result was the
computer felt Black was slightly better! {About
15-25 one-thousandths of a point.}
BUT ... a word of caution here. Even in the year 2002, the
computers are VERY good at
working out lines where there is an immediate {or so moves}
tactical decision.
They are MUCH less reliable at considering the extremely LONG-TERM
possibilities of
such a position! Especially in a long and complex ending!!!)
I must confess that even
with 23...c5; Black may still be lost - - - White will still have a very
virulent K-side attack. BUT, if Black is lost, his overall
SCHEME in the opening was refuted,
and it is almost completely impossible to place the blame on any
one move!! ].
White now decides to head for the
endgame.
24. cxd5 exd5; 25. Qxe8+!,
The ending is the best bet for White.
'!' - Irving Chernev.
[ 25.Qf3 Rfe7; "~" ]
25...Qxe8;
26. Rxe8+ Kxe8;
An ending has resulted where White has a good Bishop vs. a
fairly limited Black Knight,
but 3 pawn islands vs. Black's two. Additionally, Black seems to have VERY
promising
counterplay versus White's seemingly very weak (and backward) QBP.
(After the coming maneuver, ...R-f6 to c6.)
Black's pieces also
have an iron grip on the c4-square. This is an excellent out-post square
for the Black Knight.
But Capa has seen much further than his opponent, and very accurately appraised this position.
***
<< With his next
move, White opens lines on the K-side and isolates the Black
King's Knight-Pawn. >>
27. h5!, "+/="
White immediately pries open some lines on the King-side.
'!' - Irving Chernev. '!' - GM A. Soltis.
[ Interesting is: 27.Kf3!?, "="
Most of my students are determined to play: 27.Re1+ , in this position. ].
27...Rf6;
Fighting hard to stay in the game. (Black obviously cannot abandon the
g6-square,
at least until his King moves up, because he would drop a pawn.)
[ 27...gxh5?; 28.Rh1
Kf8; 29.Rxh5 c6; (29...Kg8;
30.Rxd5, "+/-")
30.Rxh7,
wins a pawn for White. ].
28. hxg6 hxg6;
Black's 2 pieces are scattered on opposite sides of the board.
"How would you assess this
ending? It may seem that c3-pawn is a very serious weakness, but it
turns out that the g6-pawn is just as easily attacked. Moreover, it is far
easier for White to create
a passed pawn on the King-side than it is for Black on the queenside. Thus White
should play
very actively, rather than trying to defend his queenside pawns." - FM
G. Burgess.
White now seizes the best open file,
then the 7th rank.
29. Rh1!, {Diagram?}
Occupying the open file, and headed for the seventh rank.
"Good players always seem to hold the high cards!" - I. Chernev.
(Chernev and Soltis do NOT give
this move an exclam. I give this move an exclamation point
because so many of my students - and in the early days ... when computers
were much weaker,
most of the computer programs - choose the wrong move here.)
<< Grabbing the correct file. >>
[ White could try:
29.Kf3!? Nearly ALL of my students pick the move: 29.Re1+!?, in this
position. 29...Kf7; "=" This is
obviously MUCH less effective than what Capa chose!! ].
29...Kf8;
Black plays for ...Kg7; which would safe-guard his position.
[ 29...Rc6??; 30.Bb5, "+/-" ].
30. Rh7; (Really
- '!')
White seizes the 7th row, here.
(Black's King will remain a prisoner for the rest of the game.)
Chernev here has a very long monologue
here of the value of a Rook on the 7th Rank.
(Jan. 2002: It is interesting to note that even after 'thinking' for over
20 minutes on this
position, Junior 6.0 considers the game nearly level!!).
<< Now the Rook settles naturally on the 7th rank. >>
***
"What are the secrets of the strength of a Rook on the Seventh Rank?"
A.)
"The Rook is in perfect position to attack to attack any pawns that have
not yet moved -
those still standing on the
second rank."
B.)
"The Rook is prepared to attack any pawn that has already moved, by getting
behind it
without loss of time. The pawn would
then be under threat of capture, no matter how
many squares it advanced on the file."
C.)
"The Rook's domination of the seventh rank confines the opposing King to
the last rank,
preventing his participation in the
fighting." (On the chess board.)
Author, (The Incomparable.) - Irving Chernev.
***
[ 30.Kf3!?,
"=" 30.Rh8+? Kg7; 31.Rc8 Rc6; "-/+" Nimzo
7.32 rates this position as
nearly equal (!) and prefers the move: 30.Bb5!?
"=" (Oct. 2001) ].
30...Rc6;
When I first saw this game, I was VERY concerned with how White would guard his
QBP.
(Basically, he won't even bother.).
"Black had relied on this counter-attack." - GM A. Soltis.
With his next move, White offers to swap his c-pawn for Black's g-pawn.
31. g4!, (Maybe
- '!!')
A very fine move, and not at all obvious. White advances his K-side majority,
and again
offers to trade his weakling of a c-pawn for Black's g-pawn.
'!' - Irving Chernev. '!' - GM A. Soltis.
<< White mobilizes his majority.
Look at this position. Does this honestly look
like a totally won game for White?
(I don't think so.) >>
[ The computer program, Junior
6.0 examines this position for over 10 minutes and wants to
play the move: 31.Rd7!? "=" (Dec.
2001). 31...Nc4!; - GM A. Soltis.
Several of my students have suggested: 31.Bc2!?
"=" ].
31...Nc4;
A very good move, occupying the outpost.
The Knight, which has been stuck on
the edge of the board since move 16 (!), now ...
"hastens to get back into active play." (The quoted part from
Chernev.)
[ Black should NOT play:
31...Rxc3?!; 32.Bxg6 Rc4; 33.f5!, (33.Kg3!?
Rxd4; 34.Rxc7 Rxa4;
35.g5 Ra3+;
36.Kg4 Nc4; 37.Kf5 b5; 38.Rc6 a5?!;
{Maybe Black should try: 38...Ke7!?;}
39.Kf6!
Re3; 40.Rc8+ Re8; 41.Rxe8#). 33...Rxd4;
34.Kg3 Rd3+!?; 35.Kf4, Rd4+;
36.Kg5 Rxa4; 37.f6 Kg8; 38.Rxc7, "+/-"
{Analysis Diagram.} (White is winning easily.)
This variation clearly shows that by giving White two connected passed
pawns, Black makes
a severe and
horrible mistake. The pawns are 'quicker,' i.e. they advance to the promotion
square faster.
Also, as the pawns advance, they will either gain time by checking the Black
King,
or creating
mating threats - as in this last variation. ].
32. g5!?,
(Probably - '!')
White - ...
A.) Avoids a premature exchange of pawns. White has also prevented
Black from
playing ...g5. (White still is angling for connected passers.)
B.) Gains space. (White gets the g4-square for the White King.)
C.) Keeps Black guessing, keeps the pressure on, and maintains most
of his options.
D.) White plans on Kf3-g4, slowly improving his position.
E.) Does NOT sweat Black's counter-play that starts with ...Nb2.
In addition to all of the above,
Chernev notes that White has now FIXED the Black g-pawn
as a permanent target on the g6-square!
[ The computer program, Fritz 5.32 likes the move: 32.Kf2!?, "=" (Year, 2000);
Most students suggest: 32.f5?!; "=" here. ].
32...Ne3+!?;
This is probably the best try for Black - indeed Black may even thought he was
winning here.
(This is what was reported in several N.Y. newspaper columns the next day.)
[ If 32...Nb2!?; 33.Bc2
a5!; (33...Rxc3?;
34.Bxg6, "+/=") 34.Rh6!?,
(34.Kf2!?, "=")
34...Rxc3; 35.Bxg6, "~" I
prefer White in this endgame. As already has been seen, the
long-range Bishop, active Rook, and connected-passed-pawns
probably yield the better
chances to White here.
Or 32...Nd2; 33.Rh6 Ne4; 34.c4!, "+/=" (34.f5!?) ].
33. Kf3!,
(Best.)
The most natural response, attacking the Black Knight.
'!' - GM A. Soltis. '!' - FM Graham Burgess. (& GM/Dr. John Nunn.)
[ Not 33.Kg1?!
Nd1, "=/+" A totally different try is: 33.Kf2!?,
This looks like a blunder,
but it is not. I asked a friend, who has a very
powerful computer and the brand-new
program, Deep Junior; to test this game. He allowed the
computer to analyze this game
for over an hour, (In this position.); and this is the
line the computer came up with.
33...Nd1+; 34.Ke2
Nxc3+; 35.Kd2 Ne4+; 36.Bxe4 dxe4; 37.Ke3 Rc4; 38.Kxe4 a5;
39.Kd5 Rxa4;
40.Rxc7 b5; 41.Ke5, "+/=" (Maybe - "+/")
White maintains a slight
advantage, because Black's King is still trapped by
White's Rook. ].
33...Nf5;
If I were to rate this position, without knowing this game, I would have to say
Black is better!!
(How does White guard his QBP?)
<< Trying to block the White Bishop out of the game. >>
[ Chernev gives
the (main) line: 33...Nd1; 34.Rh6,
(34.Rd7!?) 34...Kg7;
This seems
to be the best.
( Another try for Black is: 34...Kf7!?;
35.f5 Rxc3; 36.fxg6+ Kg8; 37.Ke2 Nb2;
38.Bf5,
"+/=" GM A. Alekhine - in the book of the tournament - stops here and
says White
is
winning. 38...Nxa4;
39.Be6+, The most accurate.
(This
is much better than the more
natural looking: 39.Rh7 Rc6; 40.Ke3! Nb2; 41.Kf4 Nc4; 42.Re7 a5; 43.Be6+ Rxe6;
(This
is forced. 43...Kf8??; 44. g7+, winning.)
44.Rxe6 a4; 45.Kf5 Nd6+; 46.Ke5 a3;
47.Kxd5 a2; 48.Re1 Kg7; 49.Ra1 Nb5; 50.Kc4 Nd6+; 51.Kd3 Kxg6; 52.Rxa2 Kxg5;
53.Re2! Kf6 ; 54.d5 Kf7 ; 55.Re6 Nf5 ; 56.Ke4 Nd6+ ; 57.Kd4 Nf5+; 58.Ke5 Ng7;
(58...Nd6;
59.Rh6! Nc4+; 60.Ke4! Nd6+; 61.Kf4! Ke7; 62.Rh7+ Kd8;
63.Ke5 Kc8;
64.Ke6,
"+/-").
59.Rf6+ Ke7; 60.Rh6 Kf7; 61.Rh4, "+/-" and White should
eventually win.)
39...Kg7;
40.Bf7 Rg3; 41.Rh7+ Kf8; 42.Rh8+ Ke7;
(42...Kg7??; 43.Rg8#).
43.Re8+
Kd7; 44.g7 Nc3+; 45.Kd2,
"+/-" , {Diagram?} White should win
easily.
His
g-pawn will cost Black a Rook. )
35.f5 Nxc3;
(35...Rxc3?; 36.f6+ Kg8;
37.Ke2!, "+/")
36.Kf4! Ne4; 37.Bxe4,
(37.fxg6!?)
37...dxe4; 38.f6+!, (Maybe - '!!')
(38.fxg6, "=")
38...Rxf6+;
(This is forced. If 38...Kf7?; then 39. Kxe4, "+/")
39.gxf6+ Kxh6; 40.Kxe4 Kh7;
41.Kd5! Kg8; 42.Kc6, (Maybe '!') The
best? (42.Ke6!? Kf8[];
43.d5 g5; 44.Kd7 Kf7!?;
45.Kxc7 g4; 46.d6 g3; 47.d7
g2; 48.d8Q g1Q;
49.Qe7+, ("+/-") with a won game for
White. This is also probably just a transposition.). 42...g5;
(42...Kf7!?; 43.Kxc7 Ke6;
44.d5+! Kxd5; 45.f7,
"+/-") 43.Kxc7,
("+/-") Tartakower showed this entire line
immediately after the game.
(43.d5 g4 ; 44.Kxc7 , will just transpose.)
43...g4; 44.d5 g3;
45.d6 g2; 46.d7 g1Q; 47.d8Q+ Kh7;
48.Qe7+ Kh6; 49.Qg7+! Qxg7+; 50.fxg7 Kxg7;
51.Kb7 Kf7;
(51...a6; 52.Kxa6! Kf7; 53.Kxb6 Ke7; 54.Kb7,
"+/-") 52.Kxa7 Ke7;
53.Kxb6 Kd7; 54.Kb7, "+/-"
and White wins.
(A fantastic piece of analysis that the computers, in
the year 2000, simply could not follow.).
Not 33...Rxc3??; 34.Kxe3, "+/-" ].
34. Bxf5!?,
(Probably - '!')
White must rid himself of this pesky Knight to make progress.
"Capablanca sees a rook ending as
the simplest way to win. His Rook is very active, he has
a passed pawn, and he has seen a superb way to introduce his King into the thick
of battle."
- FM Graham Burgess.
I must note that many Masters were
watching this game as it was being played. Opinion was
quite divided as to the outcome of the game at this point. (Several Masters -
such as Marshall
- felt that Black might even be better!)
[ The continuation:
34.Kg4 Ne3+; 35.Kf3 Nf5; 36.Kg4 Ne3+; is a draw by
repetition of position. ].
34...gxf5,
"Glancing at this position superficially, we see that White is about to
lose a pawn. A deeper
look, however, ..." - FM Graham Burgess.
(He goes on to make several interesting comments about the course of the
game.)
White now shows his position is better by sacrificing two pawns.
[ Black should NOT play:
34...Rxc3+?; 35.Kg4 gxf5+; 36.Kxf5 Rc4; 37.Ke5 Rxa4;
38.Rxc7 Ra2; 39.f5 Re2+; 40.Kf6, "+/-" and
White is winning. ].
***
White now gives up two pawns with
check in order to activate his King. Indeed, in order for this
to have worked; Capablanca must have planned this more than 10 moves in advance!
( OR "In a simplified
ending, where Pawns are worth their weight in gold, he gives away
TWO Pawns! Moreover, he lets Black capture them WITH CHECK!!" - Irving
Chernev.
{My emphasis.} )
35. Kg3!!, (Maybe - '!!!/!!!!')
(Brilliant!)
"Le roi s'amuse! The King is headed for B6 (f6), a square from which he can
assist the
White Rook in threats of mate, and also help the passed pawn take those last
three steps."
- Irving Chernev.
Alekhine calls this move decisive.
A move of sheer genius. How many 'average players' would find this move???
'!' - Irving Chernev. '!' -
GM A. Alekhine. '!' - GM A. Soltis. '!' - FM Graham Burgess.
(& GM/Dr. John Nunn.)
<< A shocking play ... that looks more like an oversight than a good move. >>
***
[ Most everybody I have
shown this position to over the years, have chosen the move:
35.Rd7, "+/=" Additionally, many
computers ... - over the years - have also chosen
this move!! ].
35...Rxc3+;
The only move Black can really play in this position.
I should also point out that I
analyzed this game on a friend's computer with the computer
program Fritz 4. (This was like in 1996.) The computer thought for over an hour,
(in this position);
and it still considered this position to be ... completely winning for BLACK!!!
(ha ha ha)
[ 35...a6?!;
36.Kh4 Rxc3; 37.g6 c5; 38.dxc5 bxc5!?; 39.Kg5! Re3; 40.Kf6! Kg8;
41.Rg7+! Kh8; 42.Rc7! Re8; 43.Kxf5! c4;
(Bad is: 43...Kg8?!; when Black is setting
himself
up for a fork as White advances his f-pawn.)
44.Kg5 Rd8; 45.f5 d4; 46.f6 Kg8;
(46...d3;
47.Kh6 d2; 48.g7+ Kg8; 49.f7#)
47.Kh6, ("+/-") and White is winning. ].
36. Kh4, (Maybe
- '!')
The only good move.
[ 36.Kg2?! Rc4; "-/+" ].
36...Rf3;
Probably the best try.
<< Why not? Black wins a second pawn ... WITH CHECK!! >>
[ Chernev gives the
line: 36...Rc1; 37.Kh5! Rh1+; 38.Kg6 Rxh7; 39.Kxh7 c5;
40.g6, ("+/-") ... "and the Pawn crashes
through." ].
37. g6!, (K
invasion.)
"Once more Capablanca allows a Pawn to be captured with check! As
compensation though,
Capa's King will gain an important tempo or two." - Irving Chernev.
'!' - GM A. Soltis. '!' - FM Graham Burgess. (& GM/Dr. John Nunn.)
[ 37.Rxc7?! Rxf4+; 38.Kh5 Rxd4; "=/+" ].
37...Rxf4+;
38. Kg5, (Nice.)
"Gains time by attacking the Rook." - I. Chernev.
[ 38.Kg3?? Rg4+; ].
38...Re4;
Now White shows total disdain for material by not taking the f-pawn. As long as
Black's Rook
can check from behind, White will leave the pawn there in order to shield his
King.
<< Trying to return to the defense of his King. >>
[ "Capturing one
more Pawn would be fatal: 38...Rxd4?; 39.Kf6 Kg8;
(On 39...Ke8;
40.Rh8+
Kd7; 41.g7, and
Black must give up his Rook for the Pawn.). 40.Rd7!,
and mate follows." - Irving Chernev. ].
39. Kf6!,
(VERY nice.)
(Really a double exclam move.)
"Far superior to the petty 39.
KxP. The disdained pawn will in fact be useful to White in acting
as a buffer against annoying checks."
"Capablanca's King is now in a
dominating position, and faces Black with the threat of instant mate,
as well as 40. P-N7ch, followed by the promotion of the Knight Pawn."
- Irving Chernev.
"Again highly instructive!"
- FM Graham Burgess.
( He goes on to say pretty much the same things as Chernev has already
noted. {Above.})
"It does not matter that Black has a mobile passed pawn, as White's threats
are so immediate."
- FM G. Burgess.
'!' - Irving Chernev. '!' - GM A. Soltis. '!' - FM Graham Burgess. (& GM/Dr. John Nunn.)
***
<< Disregarding the win of a pawn to set up mating threats.
The Black
Pawn at f6 actually proves useful to White as a shield from unwelcome checks
by the Black Rook! >>
***
(I think prior to this game,
this idea was very rare ... and may have been seen for the first time
here, in this game.) {A.J.G.}
[ 39.Kxf5!? Rxd4; 40.Rxc7 Rxa4; "~" ].
<< The following series of moves
are extremely precise by White. >>
39...Kg8; (Forced.)
White's active K+R combination totally tie Black up. White threatens mates, pawn
promotions,
pawn grabbing, and just general mayhem. While this is a well-known device today,
...
it was ground-breaking, even revolutionary, at the time. !!! {A.J.G.}
[ If 39...Ke8?; 40.Rh8+
Kd7; 41.g7, "+/-" and White's pawn promotes.
Not 39...Rxd4??; 40.Rh8# ].
Now MOST players would just grab a
pawn here.
40. Rg7+!, (Nice.)
Driving the Black King to a more exposed square.
(One where the g-pawn can advance with check?)
( Chernev does NOT give this
move an exclam. But even Masters miss this finesse here.
Many of my students do NOT find this move here.
So I think it definitely deserves an
exclam. {A.J.G.} )
[ 40.Rxc7!? ].
40...Kh8;
Black's King is forced to an even worse square.
[ Or 40...Kf8; 41.Rxc7 Re8; 42.Kxf5, "+/-" ].
41. Rxc7,
(Almost - '!')
"Removes one pawn, and the renewed threat of mate will enable White to
gather
in another." - Irving Chernev.
[ 41.Rd7!? ].
41...Re8;
Now the Black Rook was forced back to the first rank, because of the
mating threats.
Now that Black's Rook is stuck on his first rank, White captures the dangerous f-pawn.
42. Kxf5!,
Taking advantage of the fact that Black's Rook is now nailed to the first row.
Allowing the Black f-pawn to stay on
the board increases Black's opportunities for counter-play.
(Chernev does NOT consider this move worthy of an exclam.)
[ 42.Rxa7?! f4;
43.Rb7?,
(43.Rh7+ Kg8; 44.Rh1)
43...f3;
44.Rxb6 f2;
45.Rb1 f1Q+; 46.Rxf1 Rf8+; "-/+" ].
42...Re4;
Going for a little counter-play.
[ 42...Ra8; 43.Ke5, "+/-" Or 42...Rf8+; 43.Ke5 Re8+; 44.Kxd5 a6; 45.Rb7, "+/-" ].
43. Kf6!;
White threatens a mate and forces the Black Rook to return to the first rank.
("No rest for the weary," says Chernev.)
(Again Chernev does NOT consider this
move worthy of an exclam. But since so many of
my students play the wrong move here, I think it does deserve one. Timing is
everything in chess.)
'!' - GM A. Soltis.
[ After the line, 43.Rxa7?! Rxd4; Black has much more counterplay than in the actual game. ].
43...Rf4+;
44. Ke5; (Almost - '!')
Noting the extreme activity of the White King, and the complete lack of
any play by its
counter-part, Chernev notes that White is playing with an extra piece here.
("A King ahead," says Chernev.)
(A good rule of thumb is that an extremely active King, in an endgame
where your opponent
has no activity for
his monarch - is worth 2-4 points.) {A.J.G.}
[ 44.Ke6?! Rxd4; 45.Rxa7, "+/=" ].
44...Rg4;
Maybe the only good move here for Black.
[ 44...Re4+?; 45.Kxd5 Re2; 46.Rxa7, "+/-" ].
(White's next move is also extremely
accurate.)
45. g7+ Kg8;
This is forced.
(Swapping Rooks now leaves White with an easily won King-and-Pawn endgame.)
[ 45...Rxg7?; 46.Rxg7 Kxg7; 47.Kxd5, "+/-" White has an easily won King-and-Pawn ending.
Chernev
continues this line with: 47...Kf7; 48.Kd6 Ke8; 49.Kc7 Ke7;
50.d5, ("+/-") ...
"and the Pawn has clear sailing ahead." - I.
Chernev. ].
46. Rxa7!,
Taking this pawn FIRST is the most accurate. (The d-pawn will not run away!)
Capa's technique is remorselessly accurate!
(And once again, Chernev does NOT give this move an exclam.)
<< An important finesse - the QP cannot run away. >>
[ 46.Kxd5 a5;
47.Rd7 Rg3; 48.Kc6 Ra3; 49.Kxb6 Rxa4; 50.d5, ("+/-") is probably
still
winning for White, but is not as precise. ].
46...Rg1; 47.
Kxd5 Rc1;
Black is trying to cut off the White King from running over and gobbling up his
last pawn.
48. Kd6,
(Probably - '!')
The King advances one square, so his Pawn can advance. Black doesn't even have a
decent check.
(This type of improvement to ones' position almost never occurs to an amateur.)
[ 48.Ke5!? Re1+; 49.Kd6, "+/-" ].
48...Rc2; 49.
d5 Rc1;
Wishing for a miracle?
("Hope springs eternal." - Irving Chernev.).
50. Rc7 Ra1;
51. Kc6!,
Best. (White does not concern himself with trivialities.)
White plays this whole Rook ending to absolute perfection.
'!' - GM A. Soltis.
<< The finishing touch. >>
[ 51.Rb7!? ].
51...Rxa4; 52. d6!, Black Resigns, 1 - 0.
(NOTE: Chernev did not give an exclam to White's 51st or 52nd move.).
"This endgame provides a superb
example of a number of important endgame themes: passed
pawns, rook activity, king activity, and an admirable avoidance of materialism
when the initiative
is at stake." - FM G. Burgess.
[ 52.Kxb6?! Rb4+; "<=>" ].
(The finish might be ---> 52...Rc4+; Not much choice for Black.
53. Kb7 b5;
54. d7 Rd4; 55. Rc8+ Kxg7; 56. d8Q Rxd8;
57. Rxd8 b4; 58. Rd6,
So that the Rook can get behind the pawn.
[ 58.Kc6 b3; 59.Rb8, "+/-" also wins. ].
58...b3; 59.
Rb6 b2; 60. Rxb2, {Diagram?} ("+/-")
and as long as White knows how to mate with the King and Rook,
he can win the game easily.).
<< Reti says, "No one has
ever played these endgames with such elegant ease as Capablanca;
no one else has looked upon these technical
difficulties so casually as a matter of course." >>
- Irving Chernev.
(Who knew
when to speak, when to quote someone else, and ... when to be silent!)
GM Salo Flohr called this game one of the great masterpieces of the chess board.
GM V. Smyslov said it was
one of, ... "the finest Rook-and-Pawn end-games ever played."
(A {former} World Champion, who played more than a few fine endings of
his own!)
GM A. Alekhine referred
to this game as, ...
"a monument to White's superlative skill in the ending."
<< One of the most convincing
demonstrations of the power of a Rook in the seventh rank
that was ever actually played on a chess board.
(As compared to possibly a composed
problem.) >>
<< Capa's handling of this endgame was absolutely flawless. >>
Irving Chernev, in his
regular newspaper column, said this game was ...
"in the Top 50 of the best chess games of all time."
(I would have like to seen that list!!)
This is game # 56 in Soltis's book, "The
100 Best." (By GM A. Soltis.)
In addition to this, he showers
this game with like 13 exclams!!
(And ... He rates this game just a few points from perfect in like 3 of 5
different categories!!)
This game is also in the book, [The
Mammoth Book Of] "The World's Greatest Chess
Games."
(by GM's John Nunn, J. Emms, and of course, FM
Graham Burgess.) (Game # 21.)
In contrast to Soltis, FM G. Burgess, (& Nunn, who is supposed to have
edited this book); only
awards this game like 5 exclams, but four of these come in the ending. Since
this book is about
trying to pick the 100 best chess games of all time, this means these authors
must also consider
this game in the best one-hundred ever played.
Irving Chernev, in his book: "The
Golden Dozen," calls this one of Capa's best games.
I dare not disagree with perhaps the greatest writer who ever lived!
One of my goals is to quote the
books I have named. I do NOT simply wish to steal
from these authors - to write everything they have written. I
simply wish to whet
your appetite! It is my deepest hope that every true chess fan,
noting the exceptionally
well-crafted words, would do everything on their power to obtain the books I
have
mentioned on this web page. They are some of the finest chess books ever
printed!
I have awarded like 20 (plus) exclams
and one double-exclam in this game. Additionally,
I have totally refuted the poor analysis of the many
other annotators as concerns this
game. Strategically, this is also a FLAWLESS game by Capablanca.
(And a very good one by Tartakower, as well!)
After years of reflection and having
gone over this game countless times, I think this game is one
of the greatest games of all time. It is also one of Capa's very best efforts -
that in itself is a HUGE
statement. And this ending must easily be in the list of, "THE TEN BEST
ROOK-AND-PAWN
ENDGAMES EVER PLAYED!!!!!" - LIFE Master A.J.
Goldsby I .
***
Game first posted on my web site(s), February 20th, 2002.
(Last updated: October 21st, 2003. Last edit or save on: Thursday, May 30, 2013 12:33 AM .)
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